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Re: Films in the 50s that are actually scary

Ms.Gorefiend wrote:

"lame" and unrealistic "horror" films in the 60s?

I actually like the 60's. As a matter of fact Rosemary's Baby was released in 1968. Not to mention Night of the Living Dead, Black Sunday, Peeping Tom, Village of the Damned, The Innocents, The Curse of the Werewolf, The Pit and the Pendulum, Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?, Black Sabbath, The Birds, The Haunting, The Last Man on Earth... I could go on here. And sorry if I'm a bit defensive about the "lame and unrealistic" films of the 60's. I happen to think they are anything but.

Now as for movies of the 50's and earlier. I can help a little with that. Lon's given you a good start and already mentioned my favorites: House on Haunted Hill, House of Wax, Horror of Dracula.

50's (Not horror's golden age that's for sure. The market was dominated by sci-fi monster movies, horror sort of took a back seat during the atom age) I have to admit, a lot of these I wouldn't consider "scary".

I Bury the LivingThe Tingler Night of the Demon Creature from the Black Lagoon

Re: Films in the 50s that are actually scary

i must honestly say i don't think there is anything from the 1950's as regards horror films that is scary today. doesn't mean to say there weren't any good films just think there aren't any scary ones. the 1950's was really a science fiction genre era. the closest there is to being scary i think was " Night Of The Demon"(1957)

Re: Films in the 50s that are actually scary

No 1 50's Horror i have seen has truly scared me. The Bad Seed from 1956 did however disturb me quite a bit in some of its scenes, partly as a result of Patty McCormack's excellent chilling and calculated performance as the very young girl Rhoda. 1 particular scene i found most disturbing is when.......... /SPOILER - DRAG TO SEE TEXT BELOW

her character plays a melodic tune whilst her 'enemy' in the film Leroy is being burnt alive. A excellent example of the director in part, leaving the viewers imagination to invoke their emotions without explicitly showing the painful and fiery death of Leroy.

The scary/disturbing element in many 50s horror however may be rather found in their concepts, specifically with giant creature features. The most famous probably being Japan's 1954 Godziila. A significant amount of 50's horror was I believe a post WW2 response to the atom age/atom bombs and new alien threats (Also see 1951's The Thing). This can also be seen with such films as THEM!, which is itself has a explicit link through its conceptual elements of giant radiated ants.

Re: Films in the 50s that are actually scary

Ms.Gorefiend wrote:

"lame" and unrealistic "horror" films in the 60s?

I actually like the 60's. As a matter of fact Rosemary's Baby was released in 1968. Not to mention Night of the Living Dead, Black Sunday, Peeping Tom, Village of the Damned, The Innocents, The Curse of the Werewolf, The Pit and the Pendulum, Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?, Black Sabbath, The Birds, The Haunting, The Last Man on Earth... I could go on here. And sorry if I'm a bit defensive about the "lame and unrealistic" films of the 60's. I happen to think they are anything but.

Now as for movies of the 50's and earlier. I can help a little with that. Lon's given you a good start and already mentioned my favorites: House on Haunted Hill, House of Wax, Horror of Dracula.

50's (Not horror's golden age that's for sure. The market was dominated by sci-fi monster movies, horror sort of took a back seat during the atom age) I have to admit, a lot of these I wouldn't consider "scary".

I Bury the LivingThe Tingler Night of the Demon Creature from the Black Lagoon

for the 50s, I will have to go with Night of the Hunter, Horror of Dracula , and Evil of Frankenstein as my favs. Most of the stuff in the 50s wasn't very scary though, that's what is special about Hammer. Anything starring Vincent Price is worth checking out for sure. Haunted Palace (63) is the first movie based on lovecraft and it's pretty creepy!

Re: Films in the 50s that are actually scary

A films that I love from the 50's that didnt scare me but i really like is House of Wax. A great Vincent Prize flick which cemented his place in horror. For a 30's flick that has some disturbing aspects but will probably not outright scare u is 1932's Island of Lost Souls. Check out Dr Moreau's 'House of Pain' in this flick.

Re: Films in the 50s that are actually scary

I think they mostly use the frickin' loud music with these FUCKIN' INSTRUMENT! Too scare people like in TTFAW and NOTLD. My mom was extremely annoyed when she heard the music and what the hell with those weird and silly and long god damn titles!?

Re: Films in the 50s that are actually scary

House of Wax [1953] is my favourite 50's film. I think VP does an amazing job in it, the storyline is excellent and it's thoroughly well acted. I don't think it's particularly scary, but it certainly entertained me and is now in my horror top 10

Re: Films in the 50s that are actually scary

I have tons of 50's horror & sci fi but at the time some of them freaked me out. I dont know why but the orinal fly did cause the morph did it I hope I never get morphed into a flyswatting critter and that same year gave us the classic Lee Horror of Dracula and the bad Earth VS The Spider.The Thing from Another World is so tame even back then.House of Wax was a good example of kinda scary for the 50sCreature From The Black Lagoon was probably the first (was it?) ocean creature fear? besides godzilla hahaWhat I love about 50s horror is the actual fear of nuclear war which many had the subtext of that yeaDay the World Ended - I still love that flick.... those mutants scared the fuck outta me for decades until Hellraiser The Bad Seed - now that was crazy a little crazy girlThe great year I was born in had a goody - Night of the Demon - ttf